[Closed] When to ride after surgery - any advice

I'm 41 years old, generally fit and well. About 2 months ago I went to the GP to speak to them about a lump one inch in diameter at the base of my ear between the jaw and the ear. The tumour now needs to be removed, so I'm about to have major surgery (parotidectomy) and 'back to work recovery' is about 2 weeks.

Cycling around 75 miles per week keeps me mentally and physically in good shape, and I'd like to do as much as I possibly can to stay fit before the operation, and after. I'm wondering how others have timed their return to cycling after things like this.

The lump had been there about 2 years, and at the time I put it down to swollen glands related to stress and general lack of good health at the time. I first felt it when I was working away from home doing 4x weeks of 18-24 hour sessions in front of a computer. I was quite stressed on the job at the time and there were some issues which were difficult to handle while away from home. Lots of difficult phonecalls to home at breakfast time were exhausting, and followed by long computer sessions with high demands and eating hotel food left me in bad shape.

But time went by, the project finished and I returned home to south Shropshire. After moving from the Southeast 6 months previously I was running my own graphic design business from home and the recession was hitting hard. Clients were not getting in touch, and the money was not coming in. Stress levels again were quite high because of a lack of regular income, but I was able to ride loads and negate them to some extent because of the extra time on my hands. The lump hadn't increased in size, in fact I would say it had reduced, so it disappeared from my mind.

This on/off stress/bad health-activated swollen gland pattern continued for the next 18 months until earlier this year I got knocked out by the man flu for a week, and then a savage ear infection put me in bed for another week. Thinking about health issues in general I resolved to see a GP about the swollen gland which was present again and a little sore.

Because I had a malignant tumour in the roof of my mouth 21 years ago I got an urgent referral to my local, the Royal Shrewsbury, where the head and neck expert diagnosed a tumour in the parotid gland after an MRI scan. Two needle tests were inconclusive as to malignancy. The consultant said it needs to be removed anyway. I was then referred to the Royal Marsden in London and my wife and I met the experienced team and it's highly esteemed surgeon last week.

They performed their own CT scan and have confirmed there is no spread to the main concerns of the head, neck and chest. As yet it's still unknown whether the tumour is benign or malignant, but on Monday 26th September I'll have a brief open biopsy to find out.

The major removal surgery will then take place at the end of October and will involve an incision from the base of the ear down the jaw line to the neck. Because the parotid gland is very close to the facial nerve (which controls movement of the right side eyelid, mouth, cheeks) they have to be careful and use nerve monitors in surgery.

If the tumour is benign surgery will take 3-4 hours and they will work to protect the facial nerve, leaving some tumour on the nerve and following up with regular annual CT scans. The surgeon has a 100% record of leaving benign tumour patients with non-permanent facial paralysis. If it's malignant the surgery will take about 6-8 hours and because I've already had quite a bit of radiotherapy 20 years ago, I won't be able to have any more. The emphasis is then on the surgery to remove as much tumour as possible, meaning some facial paralysis is very likely.

When I asked the Royal Marsden surgeon what the cause of the parotid tumour was he said the radiotherapy 20 years ago helped save my life, but has probably created this tumour which may have only appeared a few years ago.

My wife and 6 year old son, family, and friends (including our bike team the Alaskan Puppies) have been unendingly supportive and their positivity is incredible. They, along with cycling, visualisation and living a normal day-to-day life, help keep me thinking positive if my thoughts turn in a darker direction.

A homeopath who we've used for 10 years diagnosed a benign tumour about 2 months ago. So far she's not wrong, and has given some great advice on post-op remedies - Hypericum is one of the nerve remedies, along with Arnica for bruising and Phosphorus or Buddleja Davidi for the effects of anaesthetic.

I've heard that acupuncture is also a good way to restore nerve ability - anyone got any experience of this?

I know it's ultimately down to me and how I feel at the time but has anyone been through major surgery and recovery, and do you have any advice on when to get back on the bike?

Any help much appreciated. And send a few positive vibes over to Ludlow when you get a moment. I'll catch them all.